What Does Reality TV Say About Our Culture?

Everyone in the world watches television. After a full day of life what do we do when we get home? Take off our shoes, put down our stuff, and turn on the television. Due to the nature of today's programming most people are turning on a reality TV show. Reality TV is a mainstay in our culture. The characters on these shows have become "stars" in their own rite and in return we praise them. But what do we praise them for? Acting foolish, putting themselves on display, nothing? What does this say about our culture?

Television big wigs will pay people enormous amounts of money to do nothing. These characters are paid to get drunk and act like a fool for 15 minutes of fame, a possible sponsorship and with any luck an appearance on a future reality TV show. Our culture seems be fueled by one thing - money. Reality TV is in a way a form of corruption. We put people on shows make them act like idiots and we enjoy it. It seems like we lowered our standards of how money is earned. Why waste your time with a career when you can go to the Jersey Shore, get drunk, and somehow get paid $5 million dollars in sponsorships and an appearance on Dancing with the Stars?!

So will it ever change? It doesn't seem likely. Reality TV has been part of the American culture for 20 years with the inception of "The Real World" in 1990. Since then there have been over 200 reality TV shows created and aired throughout the world. Reality TV is a contagious disease and seems to be growing with the emergence of new shows every month. Our culture pays people to act like morons and makes younger generations think this is appropriate behavior. Soon enough children will go from dreams of becoming an astronaut or doctor to wanting to be the next reality TV villain. Is that what you want your child to be when they grow up?